New Jersey local Keon Lawrence transfers to Seton Hall

AP PhotoNewark native Keon Lawrence is heading back to the Garden State

Keon Lawrence, the former Weequahic basketball star, is heading back home to New Jersey to play out his college days at Seton Hall.
The Star-Ledger reports:

Lawrence decided to leave Missouri "a while ago," but finished out the season because he didn't want to desert the team. Last season he averaged 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, and led the team with 29.2 minutes per game. In his two years at Mizzou, he averaged 10.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 2.1 apg.

After leaving Missouri, offers flew in from schools all over the country trying to claim the 6-2, 175-pound guard:

"I was trying to get away from home at that time," Lawrence said. "I felt I needed to grow up. Now it's time to come back."

Lawrence said after he got his release from Missouri, Villanova, Louisville, Memphis, Georgetown, UCLA, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers tried to get him. He wanted to play in the Big East or the ACC and Seton Hall was a natural fit because of coach Bobby Gonzalez's up-tempo style of play and because of the brand-new Prudential Center, where Seton Hall plays its home games.

Lawrence, who left New Jersey to avoid the streets of Newark, looks forward to playing in front of family, friends and fans once again.

Due to NCAA regulations, Lawrence is not eligible to play for Seton Hall until the 2009-10 season.